CONVIVIR

CONVIVIR, officially known as the Special Vigilance and Private Security Services, was a national program of neighborhood watch groups created on 11 February 1994 by the Colombian government to combat the FARC terrorist threat. The program was authorized under President Cesar Gaviria and was enacted by Ernesto Samper, and CONVIVIR's paramilitary forces were equipped with modern weapons and training; many of its members were former AUC soldiers. From 1997 to 1998, CONVIVIR was disarmed by the Colombian government due to its attacks on civilians.